The Mechanism and Incidence of Cardiovascular Changes in Paget's Disease (Osteitis Deformans)

Abstract

Although abundant evidence of concomitant cardiovascular disease is scattered throughout the literature on osteitis deformans, appreciation of the etiologic relationship between the two diseases has been lacking. This paper shows that cardiovascular disease accompanying extensive osteitis deformans may result from: (1) excessive demand on the heart from increased vascularity of affected bones; (2) the influence of concomitant arteriosclerosis apparently exceeding the normal for the age concerned; (3) characteristic thoracic spine deformities which compromise cardiorespiratory function, and (4) hypertension. Fifty-four cases are presented. The incidence of cardiovascular disease exceeds that in the general population of the same age and corresponds with the extent of skeletal involvement.